Simple Homemade Dog Food Recipe with Venison & Chicken

Venison and chicken make a perfect blend of proteins for a balanced, nutrient-rich raw meal. Venison provides lean, iron-rich red meat that’s high in amino acids, zinc, and B vitamins—ideal for building muscle, supporting energy, and nourishing the blood. Chicken, on the other hand, offers a lighter, easily digestible protein that complements venison beautifully. By including chicken wings (or necks), you’re also adding an excellent source of raw meaty bone, which delivers calcium and phosphorus for skeletal strength and dental health.

For many pet parents, venison is also one of the most sustainable proteins to source -especially when you can obtain it from trusted friends or local hunters, ensuring quality, freshness, and ethical use of the entire animal. Together, this combination supports strong muscles, healthy joints, and optimal nutrient balance - perfect for dogs who thrive on variety.

I know this recipe might disappoint some pet parents because it includes chicken - but hear me out. My dogs thrive on chicken, and I’m honestly grateful for that, as it’s one of the most affordable and versatile proteins available. Over the years, I’ve learned that not all chicken is created equal. My dogs do far better on locally sourced, organic, pasture-raised chicken from small farms and homesteaders than on grocery store poultry. Even the dogs who once showed sensitivity to chicken handled high-quality, farm-raised meat beautifully. For some dogs, it’s not the chicken - it’s the quality of the chicken.

Nutritional Benefits:
Venison is a lean red meat that’s high in protein and low in fat, making it an excellent choice for maintaining lean muscle mass without contributing to excess body fat. It’s rich in B vitamins (especially B12 and niacin), iron, zinc, and selenium - nutrients that support energy metabolism, immune health, and red blood cell production.

TCM Energetics:
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, venison is considered a warming protein that nourishes the Kidney Yang. It’s ideal for dogs that tend to be cold, lethargic, or have weak joints. Venison helps build vitality, strengthen bones, and boost circulation - especially beneficial during cold weather or for senior dogs needing extra warmth and energy.

Nutritional Benefits:
Chicken wings provide highly bioavailable collagen, glucosamine, and chondroitin, which support joint health, skin elasticity, and gut integrity. They’re also a great source of calcium and phosphorus when fed raw, balancing bone-to-meat ratios in homemade diets.

TCM Energetics:
Chicken wings are considered warming and strengthening, supporting the Spleen and Stomach Qi. They help dogs that have poor appetite, muscle weakness, or low energy. The collagen also helps nourish the Yin—balancing hydration and elasticity in the skin and connective tissues.

The ingredients for this recipe can be sourced from a variety of trusted suppliers. I purchase many ingredients in bulk from a local raw food co-op. The fatty fish comes from Oma’s Pride (Sardines or Ocean’s Blend), while the chicken eggs are purchased from both a local homesteader and Costco. The sunflower and hemp seeds are from Costco and Amazon. And the kelp is sourced from Life Line Pet Nutrition, and the organic spirulina is also ordered from Amazon.

This recipe was formulated using Animal Diet Formulator software for a healthy 50-pound dog without food sensitivities or other health issues. If you feed this recipe to a dog of a different weight, keep in mind that the nutrient breakdown may vary slightly.

Animal Diet Formulator Software Report

The Animal Diet Formulator software will calculate the amount of food to feed your dog based on its calorie requirements. I use a raw feeding calculator and weigh my dogs' meals because this better accounts for their metabolism and daily or weekly exercise.

This recipe was formulated using Animal Diet Formulator software based on FEDIAF guidelines for a 50-pound dog. The nutrient profile includes macronutrients, vitamins, fats, and amino acids; however, I’m only sharing the minerals and vitamins below:

Ca - calcium, P - phosphorus, K - potassium, Na - sodium, Mg - Magnesium, Cl - chloride, Fe - iron, Cu - copper, Mn - manganese, Zn - zinc, I - , Se - selenium

Disclaimer: I’m sharing this recipe to help pet parents explore what a balanced raw food diet can look like. While I’ve completed an online canine nutrition course, I am not a professional canine nutritionist and do not offer meal formulation or consulting services. This recipe is balanced for my own dogs, but it may not meet the needs of every dog if fed exclusively. If you’d like to learn more about formulating fresh food diets, I encourage you to take advanced online courses and consult with a qualified canine nutritionist—someone with formal education and hands-on experience beyond an introductory course.